6 Ways Virtual Chat is Transforming Healthcare

December 21, 2023

Renita Joan

6 Ways Virtual Chat is Transforming Healthcare

The advent of virtual chat solutions in the medical field has transformed the way we access medical information, engage with healthcare providers, and manage our well-being. This modern technological marvel is enhancing patient care in unprecedented ways.  

According to a recent Juniper Research report, the global annual cost savings of chatbots adoption in healthcare reached $3.6 billion last year. Anticipating a consistent growth rate of 320% per year, the rise of AI-powered chatbots is set to revolutionize patient experiences, delivering enhanced customer satisfaction in the healthcare sector. 

The Role of Virtual Chat in Modern Healthcare 

Improving Accessibility and Convenience 
Through chatbots, patients can access healthcare information 24/7, reducing the need to wait for office hours or appointments. This quick access to healthcare has helped many individuals, making it easier to get the answers they need when they need them. Virtual chat is especially beneficial for patients in city outskirts or underserved areas and patients with mobility or transportation challenges.  

A survey  found that 78% of patients believe chatbots would be most beneficial for scheduling doctor appointments and follow-ups, and 71% believe it helps with medication information.

Enhancing Patient Engagement 
Virtual chat doesn’t just provide information; it engages with patients on a personal level. Virtual chat utilizes advanced algorithms to analyze user preferences and behavior and tailor the responses that cater to their specific needs; for example, a chatbot can recommend products based on a user’s previous interactions. They can cross-refer symptoms the patients share in interaction with the in-fed data and suggest treatment options to make more informed healthcare decisions. 

A CX Trends Report says 74% of people believe AI-based chatbots will improve customer service efficiency.

Streamlining Administrative Tasks 
Managing administrative tasks, while necessary, can take time away from treating patients. Virtual chat simplifies tasks by facilitating appointment booking assisting with insurance verification, billing processes, and managing patient records. Automating these tasks reduces the risk of errors and gives healthcare providers some of their time back.  

Hospitals using virtual chat for administrative tasks have reported that 30% of administrative tasks for nurses can be automated or reassigned.

Telehealth Integration 
The rise of telehealth, especially on account of the pandemic, has been one of the most notable developments in modern Telehealth services enable patients to access medical counseling regardless of their location. For instance, integrating a chatbot into your website or app allows patients to book online consultations with doctors instead of ringing and waiting for medical reps to book their appointments. The patients can check which doctor is available through chatbots and what time is convenient. Though chatbots can’t replace doctors, they can notify users of timely medication, offer health tips, and provide vital medical information.  

According to IBM, chatbots can answer up to 80% of patient questions.

Privacy and Security Concerns 
Virtual chats in the healthcare industry offer robust security and privacy measures to safeguard sensitive patient information. Through end-to-end encryption, stringent access controls, and HIPAA compliance, these platforms ensure that medical data remains confidential and protected from unauthorized access. Patients can engage in secure conversations with the virtual bot, fostering trust and enabling the seamless exchange of health information while adhering to privacy regulations.  

A healthcare survey revealed that 75% of patients are comfortable using a chatbot for health monitoring, indicating their confidence in the technology’s ability to safeguard privacy.

Integration with Existing Systems 
Most of the chatbots are built to answer patient queries and concerns but chatbot can also be used by doctors to efficiently treat their patients. Virtual chat systems are designed to work seamlessly with Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR). Custom chatbots can be built for doctors where they can pull patient records from EHR or EMR can also add chatbots to their group chat, where they can collaboratively analyze the EMR of a patient and discuss the potential treatment. This integration ensures that healthcare providers have access to all the relevant patient information, making diagnoses and treatment decisions more accurate and efficient. 

According to a Deloitte survey, 61% of clinicians are interested in adopting communications tools like chatbots and telehealth into their EHR systems in the next three to five years.

Future Trends and Innovations 

AI-Powered Diagnoses: Next-gen chatbots employing AI for advanced health predictions. 

Emotional Intelligence Chatbots: Chatbots with the ability to empathize and comprehend emotions. 

Voice-Activated Health Assistants: Healthcare chatbots responding to voice commands for easy access. 

Real-time Language Translation: Global healthcare communication is facilitated with real-time language translation. 

Genomic Health Chatbots: Health chatbots are now guiding healthcare professionals based on your genetic information. 

When freshbenies, the leading health benefits service provider, experienced rapid growth in their customer base, but their customer service team wasn’t able to handle the sudden surge in the incoming queries. This led to delayed responses, errors, and the unanswered queries piled up affecting their customer satisfaction. They knew they needed to level up their customer service game.

Entered Bonnie- an AI-powered virtual chatbot to the scene. Bonnie had assisted over 900 customers and completed more than 300 signups and activations.

 The Ultimate Care- vChat 

Virtual chat is a rapidly growing technology with the potential to revolutionize modern healthcare. By improving accessibility, convenience, engagement, and efficiency, virtual chat can help to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for everyone, making it an indispensable asset in the healthcare industry. With an increasing number of patients and providers embracing this technology, the future of healthcare is becoming more patient-centric and efficient, all thanks to the power of virtual chat. Our AI-powered chatbot solution- vChat can deliver a quality experience for every patient and free up your time to show your patients how much they mean to you. 

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